Amnesty International has voiced significant concern regarding the deteriorating conditions faced by Rohingya Muslims both within Myanmar and in refugee situations abroad. This concern follows the tragic sinking of a boat carrying 90 Rohingya refugees and migrants near the Thailand-Malaysia border, resulting in at least 25 fatalities. Joe Freeman, a Myanmar researcher at Amnesty International, stated that this incident underscores the severe risks Rohingya refugees face when attempting to escape conflict and persecution in Myanmar, as well as the harsh realities in refugee camps in Bangladesh.
Freeman urged the Malaysian and Thai authorities to provide coordinated humanitarian assistance to the survivors and to avoid forcibly repatriating them to Myanmar. He encouraged ASEAN leaders to address the long-standing issues surrounding Rohingya maritime refugees and the broader conflict in Myanmar. Freeman also pointed out other severe challenges such as food shortages, forced labor, arbitrary detention, and movement restrictions that the Rohingya face in Myanmar (JURIST).
The situation in Bangladesh refugee camps has worsened due to US funding cuts, leading to shortages in shelter and educational services, forcing many refugees to make the perilous decision to flee by sea. Meanwhile, Malaysian authorities are conducting rescue operations for two additional boats reportedly carrying Rohingya refugees. An investigation is ongoing under Malaysia’s Immigration Act against those rescued, as unauthorized entry into Malaysia is illegal under this law.
Such maritime incidents are not isolated. Recently, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency turned away two boats carrying approximately 300 Rohingya refugees. Local reports indicate that since 2020, over 1,300 undocumented migrants have been detained off Malaysia’s coast. Currently, 117,670 Rohingya refugees and asylum-seekers are registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia. The country has yet to ratify the UNHCR Convention, despite recommendations from the Malaysian Human Rights Commission.
Malaysia proposed a review of the National Security Council Directive No.23 in February to potentially allow refugees the right to work. Both the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration emphasized, in a joint statement, that countries must uphold international maritime law obligations to protect those in distress at sea, as outlined in Article 98 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. This calls on coastal states to provide “adequate and effective search and rescue service” to those in peril at sea (Al Jazeera).